Mud flap weight

ABSTRACT

A weight and anti-curling device is provided for a mud flap with the mud flap having an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a front side and a rear side. The weight of this invention is comprised of a support member. The support member is positioned at the rearward side of the lower end of the mud flap. Bolts extend through the support member and the mud flap to secure the weight to the lower end of the mud flap. The support member may be positioned at the forward side of the mud flap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mud flap weight for a truck or trailer andmore particularly to a mud flap weight for a truck or trailer whichprevents the mud flap from curling.

Description of the Related Art

Flexible mud flaps have long been used on trucks and trailers behind thewheels thereof to protect vehicles following the truck or trailer fromrocks and other debris being thrown from the wheels of the truck ortrailer.

Weights have been attached to the mud flaps to reduce the amount offlapping of the mud flaps due to wind currents. However, the prior artweighted mud flaps are believed to be less than effective. Further, tothe best of Applicants' knowledge, the prior art mud flaps do notsatisfactorily prevent the curling of the mud flaps. The curling of themud flaps reduces their effectiveness and detracts from the appearanceof the mud flap. Additionally some of the prior art weighted mud flapsrequire that the weight be embedded in the mud flap during themanufacturing of the mud flap. Further, the prior art weights for mudflaps are not easily attached to the mud flap. Applicants previouslyreceived U.S. Pat. No. 10,023,242 entitled MUD FLAP WEIGHT. AlthoughApplicants' previous mud flap weight has met with considerable success,it has been found that the second support member or plate 64 of the '242patent may not be necessary. Further, if the plate 64 of the mud flapweight of the '242 patent is eliminated, the cost of manufacturing themud flap weight of the invention of the '242 patent is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects oressential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summaryis not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

A weight for a mud flap is disclosed with the mud flap having an upperend, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a forward side and arearward side with the mud flap being secured to a truck, vehicle ortrailer rearwardly of a wheel thereof. The weight includes an elongatedsupport member having a vertically disposed rear wall with a first end,a second end, an upper end, a lower end, a forward side and a rearwardside. The support also includes a horizontally disposed lower wallhaving a first end, a second end, a lower end, a rearward end, an upperside and a lower side with the rearward end of the lower wall beingjoined to the lower end of the rear wall and extending forwardlytherefrom. In the preferred embodiment, a vertically disposed flangeextends upwardly from the forward end of the lower wall of the supportmember.

In the preferred embodiment, the lower wall of the first support memberhas a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart slots or openings formedtherein to permit water to drain downwardly therethrough.

A plurality of spaced-apart bolts, having a threaded end and a head end,extend through the rear wall of the support member and through the lowerend of the mud flap. Nuts are threadably secured to the threaded ends ofthe bolts to secure the support member to the lower end of the mud flap.In the preferred embodiment, the support member is comprised of metal.

The positioning of the support member with respect to the lower end ofthe mud flap may be reversed wherein the support member is positionedforwardly of the mud flap.

It is therefore a principal object to provide an improved weight for amud flap for a vehicle such as a truck or trailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight which may beeasily and securely attached to the lower end of a mud flap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight for a mud flapwhich prevents curling of the mud flap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight for a mud flapwhich reduces the flapping action of the mud flap due to wind currents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight for a mud flapwhich is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined inappearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the mud flap weight;

FIG. 2 is an exploded partial rear perspective view of the mud flapweight of this invention secured to the lower end of a mud flap which ispositioned rearwardly of a wheel of a truck, trailer or vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the mud flap weight of this inventionsecured to the lower end of a mud flap which is positioned rearwardly ofa wheel of a truck, trailer or vehicle; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side view similar to FIG. 3 except that the supportmember is positioned at the forward side of the mud flap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way ofillustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments aredisclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The weight for a mud flap 10 of this invention is designated by thereference numeral 12. Mud flap 10 is conventional in design and includesan upper end 14, a lower end 16, a first side 18, a second side 20, afront side 22 and a rear side 24. The upper end 14 of the mud flap 10 isattached to the frame 26 of a truck, trailer or vehicle 28 inconventional fashion. Mud flap 10 is positioned rearwardly of a wheel30. The mud flap 10 is comprised of conventional materials such asrubber, thermoplastic materials, etc.

Weight 12 includes a support member 32. Support member 32 includes arear wall 34, having an upper end 36, a lower end 38, a first end 40, asecond end 42, a front side 44 and a rear side 46. Support member 32includes a lower wall 48 having a rear end 50 and a front end 52. Asseen, the rear end 50 of lower wall 48 is joined to the lower end 38 ofrear wall 34 and extends forwardly therefrom. An upstanding flange 54extends upwardly from the forward end 52 of lower wall 48. Although itis preferred that flange 54 be provided, there are some instances wherethe flange 54 may be omitted. It is preferred that support member 32 beof one-piece construction. Support member 32 is comprised of a metalmaterial such as steel, stainless steel, iron, etc. Rear wall 34includes a plurality of square bolt openings 56 formed therein in aspaced-apart manner. Each of the openings 56 is adapted to have acarriage bolt 58 extending therethrough. When the carriage bolt 58 ispositioned in an opening 56, the square neck portion 60 of the bolt 58will be received in the square bolt opening 56. A plurality of optionalhorizontally spaced-apart drainage openings 62 are formed in lower wall48 at the front end 52 of lower wall 48.

The weight 12 is secured to the lower end of the mud flap as will now bedescribed. The rear wall 44 of the support member 32 is positionedrearwardly of the mud flap 10 so that the lower end of the mud flap 10is positioned on the upper surface of the lower wall 48 of the supportmember 32. A pen or some other type of marking device is then extendedthrough the square bolt openings 56 from the rearward side thereof toindicate where holes 64 will be drilled in the mud flap 10. The supportmember 32 is then positioned at the rearward side of the mud flap 10 sothat the square bolt openings 56 register with the holes 64 drilled inthe mud flap 10.

Bolts 58 are then extended forwardly through the square bolt openings 56so that the square necks 60 of the bolts 58 are received in the squareopenings 56 which prevents the bolts 58 from being rotated when the nutsare to be secured. The bolts 58 are then extended through the holes 64in the mud flap 10. Washers 66 and nuts 68 are then threadably mountedon the forward ends of the bolts 58 to securely position the weight 12on the lower end of the mud flap 10.

As seen in FIG. 4, the weight 12 may also be positioned on the mud flap10 as seen therein wherein the wall 34 of the support member 32 ispositioned at the forward side of the mud flap 10 and whereby the flange54 is positioned at the rearward end of the mud flap. In that position,the support member 32 is positioned at the front side of the mud flap10.

There are some instances when the flange 54 may not be utilized althoughit is preferred that the flange 54 be provided.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specificto certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, thespecific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing theclaimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

We claim:
 1. A weight for a rubber mud flap having an upper end, a lowerend, a first side, a second side, a forward side and a rearward sidewith the rubber mud flap being secured to a truck, vehicle or trailerrearwardly of a wheel thereof, which prevents the curling of the rubbermud flap, comprising: an elongated support member including: (a) avertically disposed rear wall having a first end, a second end, an upperend, a lower end, a forward side and a rearward side; (b) a horizontallydisposed lower wall having a first end, a second end, a forward end, arearward end, an upper side and a lower side; (c) said rearward end ofsaid lower wall being joined to said lower end of said rear wall andextending forwardly therefrom; a plurality of spaced-apart bolts, havinga threaded end and a head end, extending forwardly through said rearwall of said support member and the lower end of the rubber mud flap;each of said plurality of spaced-apart bolts having a washer mountedthereon which is positioned forwardly of the rubber mud flap and whichis in direct engagement with the forward side of the rubber mud flap;and nuts threadably secured to said threaded ends of said boltsforwardly of said washers to secure said support member to the lower endof the rubber mud flap.
 2. A weight for a rubber mud flap having anupper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a forward side anda rearward side with the rubber mud flap being secured to a vehicle ortrailer rearwardly of a wheel thereof, comprising: an elongated supportmember including: (a) a vertically disposed front wall having a firstend, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, a forward side and arearward side; (b) a horizontally disposed lower wall having a firstend, a second end, a forward end, a rearward end, an upper side and alower side; (c) said forward end of said lower wall being joined to saidlower end of said front wall and extending rearwardly therefrom; aplurality of spaced-apart bolts, having a threaded end and a head end,extending rearwardly through said front wall of said support member andthe lower end of the rubber mud flap; each of said plurality ofspaced-apart bolts having a washer mounted thereon which is positionedrearwardly of the rubber mud flap and which is in direct engagement withthe rearward side of the rubber mud flap; and nuts threadably secured tosaid threaded ends of said bolts rearwardly of said washers to securesaid support member to the lower end of the rubber mud flap.
 3. A weightfor a thermoplastic mud flap having an upper end, a lower end, a firstside, a second side, a forward side and a rearward side with thethermoplastic mud flap being secured to a truck, vehicle or trailerrearwardly of a wheel thereof, which prevents the curling of thethermoplastic mud flap, comprising: an elongated support memberincluding: (a) a vertically disposed rear wall having a first end, asecond end, an upper end, a lower end, a forward side and a rearwardside; (b) a horizontally disposed lower wall having a first end, asecond end, a forward end, a rearward end, an upper side and a lowerside; (c) said rearward end of said lower wall being joined to saidlower end of said rear wall and extending forwardly therefrom; aplurality of spaced-apart bolts, having a threaded end and a head end,extending forwardly through said rear wall of said support member andthe lower end of the thermoplastic mud flap; each of said plurality ofspaced-apart bolts having a washer mounted thereon which is positionedforwardly of the thermoplastic mud flap and which is in directengagement with the forward side of the thermoplastic mud flap; and nutsthreadably secured to said threaded ends of said bolts forwardly of saidwashers to secure said support member to the lower end of thethermoplastic mud flap.
 4. A weight for a thermoplastic mud flap havingan upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a forward sideand a rearward side with the thermoplastic mud flap being secured to avehicle or trailer rearwardly of a wheel thereof, comprising: anelongated support member including: (a) a vertically disposed front wallhaving a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, a forwardside and a rearward side; (b) a horizontally disposed lower wall havinga first end, a second end, a forward end, a rearward end, an upper sideand a lower side; (c) said forward end of said lower wall being joinedto said lower end of said front wall and extending rearwardly therefrom;a plurality of spaced-apart bolts, having a threaded end and a head end,extending rearwardly through said front wall of said support member andthe lower end of the thermoplastic mud flap; each of said plurality ofspaced-apart bolts having a washer mounted thereon which is positionedrearwardly of the thermoplastic mud flap and which is in directengagement with the rearward side of the thermoplastic mud flap; andnuts threadably secured to said threaded ends of said bolts rearwardlyof said washers to secure said support member to the lower end of thethermoplastic mud flap.